Synchronous-motor-control system



June 1940. H. E. EDGERTON 2,205,248

SYNCHRONOUS IOTOH- CONTROL SYSTEM Filed June 12, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 /58 A35 Harold L'Jfd ertv 71/ Patented June 18, 1940 SYNCHRONOUS-MOTOR-CONTROL SYSTEM Harold Eugene Edgerton, Belmont, Mass, assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 12 1937, Serial No. 147,963

18 Claims." (Cl. 172-489) The present invention relates to synchronousmotor-control systems.

In copending applications, Serial No. 675,348,

filed June 12, 1933, andSerial No. 111,456, filed November 18, 1936, there are disclosed novel systerns for controlling a synchronous motor. .After the motor is started. as an induction motor, its

field switch is closed to connect the field winding to a source of exciting current at the moment when there is a predetermined angular displacement, in electrical degrees, between the axis of a 1:

physical. field pole and an imaginary field pole-" that would generate the terminal voltage on open circuit, This is the same as the angle between the axis of a physical field pole and the axis of a pole of the fiux produced by the armature; or the angle between the field winding and the fiux set up in the air gap by the armature currents.

By suitable choice of this-closing angle, it is possible to synchronize with a larger load than would otherwise be the case. By suitable adjustment, the field relay may be caused to close at the most favorable angle; for pulling into step the largest load, at the same time reducing objectionable oscillations and surges of current in the in the appended claims.

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a greatly simplified diagrammatic view of circuits and apparatus arranged and constructed according to one embodiment of the present invention, many of the parts being illustrated in very rudimentary form, in order not to complicate the showing; Figs. 2 ,to 4 are similar" views illustrating the use of somewhat modified tubes and circuits; Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating the substitution of alternating current for the excitation of Figs. 1 to 4; Figs. 6 and 7 are similar views of further modifications, illustrating the use of other types of tubes, Fig; '7 being a more complete diagram than Figs. 1 to 6; Figs. 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the tube shown in Fig. 7; Fig, '10 is a similar view, but showing a substantially complete system; and Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 1 of another modification.

but without lowering the Referring, first, to Fig. 1, a synchronous motor I is shown having the usual rotor construction whereby the field poles 6, l, 8 and 9 are caused to rotate. The stator or armature is connected by a plurality of line-conductor wires 2, 3 and I to an alternating-current supply of power 32 by means of a switch 34. The motor I is brought up to speed when these wires are energized upon the closing of the switch 34, Usually this, is done through a step-down auto-transformer in order to reduce the current taken by the motor. Polyphase current from the lines causes the armature to produce a rotating magnetic field in the motor which supplies the rotor with an induction-motor torque for starting. The rotor speeds up, finally reaching a speed that depends upon the amount of load on the shaft. This rotor speed is slightly below synchronous speed and thus is slightly less than the speed of the rotating magnetic field.

Though the field of this synchronous motor is v shown and described as rotating, it will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to synchronous motors in which the armature rotates.

Direct current from any source, such as a generator 5, when connected by wire conductors l0 and I! to the field circuit including the poles 6, l, 8, 9 through the medium of a field switching tube or relay tube i0, causes the field circuit to produce a magnetic field. The rotor poles 8, 1, 8 and 9 are either attracted or'repulsed by the magnetic poles that are caused by the polyphase alternating voltage on the stator, depending upon the relative angular position,

If the field switching tube l0 becomes conducting at such an instant so that there is a force between the rotor and the stator poles tending to accelerate the rotor, then the rotating part is speeded up in such a direction as to raise the speed of the motor to synchronism. If the tube becomes conducting at such an instant so that there is a force tending to decelerate the rotor, then the rotating part is slowed down, which retards synchronism. Should the load be small enough, the motor may ultimately synchronize even if the field switch i0 becomes conducting under the worst possible conditions. If the switching is angularly controlled, however, the

motor is able to pull a larger load up to synchronous speed.

The synchronous motor i which is to be synchronized drives, through-its shaft 30, a commutating disc or wheel I of insulating material that has a metallic, segmental insert for each pair of poles. The inserts are spaced to correspond with the pairs of poles of the rotor. segment can be used but it will not give as many signals. As the motor I is shown provided with four poles, two inserts I2I and I22 are illustrated. Two brushes I28 and I2! contact intermittently with the segments I2I and I22 as the motor rotates. The brushes I2! and I29 are in contact with the segments I2I and I22 when the rotor of the motor I has predetermined angular positions to a fixed plane including the axis of shaft 30. The plate circuit of the tube It is established, under suitable conditions, if a switch I2 is closed. The switch I2 prevents the application of the field-switching method until requirements other than angle are fulfilled, such as a definite time after starting the motor from rest or at a time when the rotor has reached a definite speed.

The field switch or relay tube ll shown in Fig. 1 represents a gas-filled grid-controlled tube such as a thyratron, grid-glow tube, or ignitron. The relay tube It is shown with two control grids II and I2. By suitable construction, the control of the instant of starting of the tube may be made a function of the potentials upon the two grids. In this manner, the field may be caused to become energized at the proper moment, in response to suitable impulses, to realize the advantages of field-switching at the best angle, connecting the field circuit, through the wires I6 and II, to the generator 5 which provides the exciting current.

For eifecting this result, the tube Il may be connected to operate as follows. After the main switch 34 is closed, the motor I comes up to a very near constant but subsynchronous speed as an induction motor. At this time, that is, after the accelerating period as an induction motor has substantially transpired, the switch I3 is closed to close the plate circuit of the tube I0, thereby to make it possible to energize the field when the grid potentials are both at the proper value. As drawn in Fig. 1, the lower grid II is connected to one end of the secondary winding ll of a trans former II 5, the other end of the secondary winding II being connected to the filament 9 of the tube. The transformer II! is preferably of the type giving a peaked wave form of voltage when excited by the sinusoidal armature voltage supplied from the power supply 32. The sinusoidalcurrent wave is impressed upon the primary winding I5 of the transformer II5 by connecting it, through the medium of conductors 98 and IM to the line conductors 3 and l, in series with a phase-shifting network such as the series connected, adjustable impedance H5, or in any other desired manner. The illustrated connections ensure that the frequency and the phase relationship of the said sinusoidal-current (or peaked-voltage) wave shall be the same as that of the voltage of the power source 22 from which the motor I is driven. The peaked-voltage wave impressed upon the grid II through the medium of the secondary winding 14 of the transformer II! is thus in phase with the rotating magnetic field.

The grid I2, on the other hand, is connected so that the voltage applied thereto shall be in phase with the rotor. This is effected by connecting the grid I2, through an impedance 2' and the brushes I29 and I28, to the plate supply voltage. The voltage of the grid I2 is thus controlled by the position of the rotor. The impedance 20 may comprise a resistor with or without a capacitive or inductive reactor or both,

One

A bias battery I22 may be inserted in the grid circuit of the grid II, between thegrid II and the filament 9, and a bias battery I25 in the grid circuit of the grid I2, between the grid I2 and the filament 2, in order to provide for suitable operation. These batteries, as well as other elements, are omitted from some of the figures, for clearness. An impedance 2I is connected in series with the battery I2I between the filament 9 and the grid I2. The impedance 2| may be a resistor or a combination of resistance and inductance.

The field circuit may be traced from the conductor I6, through a field control rheostat 3|, the exciter 5, and the tube III, with a switch II in parallel to the tube In, to the conductor II. A field-discharge resistor 210 may also be employed in parallel with the field, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 10.

The characteristics of the tube I0 and the magnitude of the voltages on the grids II and I2 are adjusted so that the tube III does not conduct current as long as the brushes I20 and I2! are not in contact with the metallic segments I2I or I22 in the insulated disc I2I, but does conduct instantly when the brushes, at a suitable point in the rotation of the shaft 30, do touch the metallic segments provided the voltage from the transformer II! is also at the same instant at a peak value. When the segments I2I and I22 are not in contact with the brushes I28 and I29, therefore, there is no current in the resistor 20, and there is no current, therefore, in the resistor 2I.

The field thus becomes energized with direct current through the relay tube III at the instant when simultaneous pulses of voltage are produced on both of the grids II and I2. Since the voltage of one of the grids, namely, the grid II, is in phase with the rotating magnetic field, and the voltage of the other grid, namely, the grid I2, is in phase with the rotor, the simultaneous peaks for tripping occur only at some definite angular relationship between them.

The angular displacement between the rotating stator fiux and the field winding, so as to provide the most favorable angle at which the field relay II closes, is adjustable. This angle may be adjusted to any value in many ways, as by shifting the angular position of the segment wheel I20 or brushes, selecting different phases of the supply voltage, or shifting the phase of the current in the transformer II5 by inserting phase-shifting networks in series or in parallel with it.

The surge or pulse of voltage may be eifectively produced on the grid I2 in constant angular relationship to the rotor by a pilot generator, either direct excited, or of the reluctance or the variable-capacitance type, instead of by means of the contactor arrangement shown at I2I and I22. Fig. 11 shows the use of a pilot generator I5 in substantially the same circuit as is illustrated in Fig. 1. The pilot generator impresses a peaked-wave form between the grid and the cathode. The bias batteries I25 and I23 may or may not be needed, depending upon the electrical characteristics of the tube l0. Circuits similar to that of Fig. 11 may be employed analogous to the circuits of Figs. 2 to '7 and 10, using the pilot generator in place of the contactor arrangement. The function of the pilot generator I5 and the said contactor arrangement is the same, namely, to produce a pulse in phase with the position of the rotor.

The operation may be described as follows: Assuming the motor I to be at rest, the switch 34 will be closed, connecting the motor armature to the main-line conductors 2, 3 and 4, thus starting the motor by reason of the induction-motor torque. The voltage appearing on the grids II and I2 is normally insufficient to cause the apparatus, including the tube II), to operate at this time. The motor will eventually, however, attain a speed near to synchronism, and will continue to operate at such speed as an induction motor. Once during each cycle, corresponding to the position of the shaft 30, the grids II and I2 will then be subjected to sudden pulses of voltage.

These pulses of voltage will render the tube I I) conducting if they occur simultaneously, thereby causing a closing of the relay tube III.

The said switch I4 is closed either by hand or automatically, after the relay tube III has operated and the motor has pulled into synchronism, in order toshort-circuit the relay tube III during the normal operation of the motor. This switch I4 is shown diagrammatically in Figs. 1 to 4 and 11, for the sake of simplicity, and in order not to complicate the drawings. In Fig. 10, however, which shows a more complete circuit, the switch I4 is shown replaced by the relay contact elements 254. A corresponding switch I12 is described hereinafter in connection with Fig. 7.

The switch I3, too, is shown diagrammatically inFigs. l to 6 and 11, and it is also shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7. In the more complete showing of Fig. 10, however, this switchI3is represented by the contact members 262, except that the contact members 262 are shown in Fig. 10 as connected in the grid circuit of the tube 2Ill instead of, as in the other figures, in the plate circuit of the tube III. In this Fig. 10, these contact members 262 are shown under the control of a dash pot 264; but the automatic control of the switch I3 may be effected in other ways also. It may be operated either manually, or by a relay connected to operate as a function of speed, time, or any other factor. In Fig. 11, the switch I3 is shown diagrammatically as a centrifugal switch which may be driven by the motor shaft 30. It will be understood that the switch I3 may have various locations; for example, it may be positioned between the brush I28 and the terminal 41 in Fig. 1, instead of as shown; or in the location shown in Fig. 5; and also in other locations.

The secondary winding" of the transformer H5, as illustrated in Fig. 1 should have enough resistance to prevent too much current on the grid II, so as to perform the function of a protective resistor, thereby to prevent a current flow through the tube I0 until it is desired; otherwise an additional protective resistor should be employed, A protective resistor 33 is shown, for example, in the plate circuit of the small gas-filled grid-controlled relay tube H4 in Figs. 2 and 4 to keep the grid current of the tube H4 from getting too high. Two such protective resistors, 33 and 35, are shown in Fig. 3, one for each of the two grids of the corresponding multiple-grid tube H4 of Fig. 3. Protective resistors 33 and 35 are similarly shown provided for the respective grids of the multiple-grid tubes 50 and 5| of Fig. 6.

The tube I0 may be of the hot-cathode, arcdischarge, grid-controlled type. It may, however, be replaced by any of a large number of other types of apparatus; for example, it may be of the mercury-pool or ignitron type, with a mercurypool cathode 9, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Minor modifications in the circuit as shown in Fig. 1 are then desirable. I

The starting-band grid electrode II of the tube I0 in Fig. 2 may be of the same type as is described in application, Serial No. 610,045, filed May 9, 1932. The action is the same with the ignitron tube III of Fig. 3, having an internal ignitor starter 91, instead of the external starting band II.

The circuit of Fig, l is adapted to operate at relatively low voltage; it may require 100 volts or less to trip the tube III. The circuits of Figs. 2 and 3, on the other hand, are adapted to relatively high voltages. It may require a voltage of from 7000 to 40,000 volts on the grid II of Fig. 2 or several amperes through the ignitor 91 of Fig. 3 before the corresponding tube will operate.

In connection with the use of the tube III of Figs. 2 and 3, it is desirable to use a circuit that gives a'sudden impulse to the starting grid II or the ignitor 91. This circuit stores up energy in the capacitor I26 and suddenly discharges it through the transformer H5 at the desired Instant of time.

In Figs. 2 and 3, the mercury-arc relay tubes I0 are shown provided not only with the grid I I, but also with a grid I2 surrounding the anode.

though the grid I2 may be omitted, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The primary winding 15 of the transformer is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 connected to the line conductors 3 and 4 through the medium of the gasfilled grid-controlled relay tube I I4, connected to the line conductors 3 and 4, in series with a rectifier I34. In Fig. 4, the corresponding connections are shown through a transformer I32.

The grid I I is energized by a pulse through transformer I I5, preferably by a discharge through the condenser I26, controlled by the small gas-filled control tube I I4, as is described in the saidapplication, Serial No. 610,045. Although the I the grid II momentarily makes it possible for the tube III-to start each cycle, it is prevented from starting until the grid I2 is energized at the identical instant, as has been described before. I The charging condenser I26 is shown connect- 7 ed in Figs. 2, 3 and'4 between the cathode and the plate of the relay tube H4; in Figs. 2 and 3, this connection is in series with the primary winding I5 of the starting transformer H5. The grid of the relay H4 of Figs. 2' and 4, and one of the grids of the relay II4 of Fig.- 3, is adjustably connected at I36 to the phase-shifting resistor I33, which is shunted across the rectifier I34. The resistor I38 thus serves as a potentiometer to shift the phase of the starting point of the rectifier tube III. The tube I0 is tripped at a point determined by the adjustment of the potentiometer I38 at I36 to initiate the discharge on the tube III. The phase-shifting resistor H9 of Fig. 1 and other figures is thus replaced in Figs. 3 and 4 by the phase-shifting resistor I38. Both phase shift ers H9 and I36 may, however,'be employed, as illustrated in Fig. 2, where the resistor H9 serves additionally to adjust the intensity of the voltage on the grid II.

In Fig. 4, although only a single grid II is shown for the tube II], the effect of a further grid is obtained by the insulating segments HI and 222 when they engage the brushes 228 and 229 to deenergize the grid transformer H5. Two circuits, therefore, work in parallel into the grid circuit: the discharging. circuit for the condensers I26 and the circuit of the brushes 228 and 229.

This rmits the operation of the tube I0 when the di charge of the condenser I26 takes place simultaneously with the bridging of the brushes 226 and 229 by the segments 22I or-222.

In the circuit of Fig. 1, the tube will not operate until both grids II and Il are simultaneously energized. In the circuit of Fig. 4, the said two circuits must similarly operate simultaneously to g initiate operation of the tube ll.

In the modification of Fig. 4, to summarize, the starting grid II is prevented from starting the tube I l as long as the primary winding ll of the transformer I ll is short circuited by the brushes lll and 22! and the metal disc lll. At some predetermined angle, the brushes lll and 229 will be insulated from each other at the same instant that the grid-controlled gas-filled discharge tube IIl operates, and the surge of current from the condenser Ill will then cause the tube I l to operate instantly.

A relay Ill having an actuating winding in the plate circuit of the tube Il is raised as soon as field current fiows, thus opening, at contact members Ill and I, the circuit that short-circuits the primary winding ll of the transformer Ill. This relay Ill is not essential, since the tube Il will continue to conduct even if there is no grid excitation, as long as the current flows. The tube Il may go out if there are violent surges in the field current that tend to reverse the fiow of current. With grid excitation as shown, the tube will be ready to start within one cycle after going out.

A resistor H is shown in Fig. 4 in parallel to I the secondary winding Il for damping oscillations of the voltage in the secondary winding 'Il.

Since the tube ll is a rectifier as well as a relay, the applied field voltage may be from an alternating-current supply. The exciter I may,

' therefore, be replaced by a transformer Ill, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the tube ll of which is shown as a full-wave grid-controlled rectifier tube for supplying excitation to the field. If this is done, it is desirable to use full-wave or polyphase rectification, since the field circuit is inductive, as is well understood. The functions of the grids II and ll of Fig. 5 are the same as described before, but two anodes Ill and Ill are provided for full-wave rectification. The anodes are connected to the secondary winding Ill of the transformer Ill, the primary winding Ill being connected, in parallel with the primary winding 15, to the line conductors l and l. The voltage on the grid II should be peaked in wave form.

Two separate grid-controlled rectifier tubes II and Ila may be used,as shown in Fig. 6. These may be mercury-pool tubes with external starting bands II, as in Fig. 2, or ignitors H, as in Fig. 3, connected as a full-wave rectifier to supply field current. It is necessary to supply an initiating voltage to the grids II and Ila of these tubes at the proper part of each cycle of applied voltage unless provision is made for holding over the arc in these tubes. One such circuit, for starting each rectifier at the proper part of each cycle, is shown in Fig. 6 below the grid-controlled tubes II and Ila. Such circuit may comprise two double-grid tubes ll and II, of the type described in application, Serial No. 48,669, filed November 7, 1935, by K. J. Germeshausen, and provided with caesium-liberating or equivalent cathodes Ill and Illa. These tubes ll and II are connected so as suddenly to discharge condensers ll and ll, once each cycle, into the primary windings ll and ll of impulse transformers Ill, because they may be of the same type above described by that reference number, and their secondary windings ll are shown connected to --75 the starting electrodes II and Ila. One grid Ill and Illa of each tube ll and II is shown ad- Justably connected at ll and ll to the phaseshifting resistors Ill and Ill, that are shown shunted across rectifiers ll and 51 to permit the selection 'of the desired part of the voltage at which the pulse occurs. The resistors Ill and Ill, like the resistor Ill, thus serve as potentiometers to shift the phase of the starting point of the rectifier tubes Il, Ila. The tubes ll and II trip at a point determined by the adjustments at ll and ll to initiate the discharge in the tubes ll and Ila. This type of control of the output is commonly termed phase-control.

The primary winding Ill of the transformer Ill is shown connected to a source of alternatingcurrent supply H, which must be the same supp y that drives the motor. The primary winding Ill of a transformer ll must be connected to the same source ll of alternating-current power and their secondary polarities must be connected properly in order that the voltage pulses on the grids II and Ila occur when the plate voltages of the tubes II and Ila are positive with respect to the cathode. The secondary winding Ill of the transformer ll is shown connected at its ends to the filaments of the rectifiers ll and U.

The relay Ill closes the contact members Ill and Ill as soon as the tubes II and Ila start. thus short-circuiting the brushes Ill and Ill and thereby permitting the tubes II and Ila to operate continuously.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 4 for starting the tube I l is also directly adaptable to the fullwave rectifier arrangement described in connection with Fig. 6.

If desired, the circuit of Fig. 1 may be modified in the manner of the other figures to operate a mechanical field switch ll for closing the circuit of the exciter l, as illustrated in Fig. '1. The tube ll may be of the double-grid type described in the said Germeshausen application, provided with grids ll and ll, a cathode Ill and an anode ll. The grid ll is controlled through the transformer Ill, as in Fig. l; and the grid H is connected to the brush Ill, also as in Fig. 1. plate ll is shown connected to the brush Ill, through a resistance ll, by means of a switch Il. The tube may be energized, at the times controlled by the voltages applied to the grids, by a condenser ll, connected in series with the actuating coil Ill of the field switch ll across a source of direct current by a switch Ill. One of the terminals of the direct-current source is shown at Ill and the other terminal at I". The coil Ill and the switch Ill are shunted by a resistance ll. The condenser ll may be shortcircuited by a switch I'll, shown in series with a resistance Ill. The grid ll and the cathode Ill are shunted by a resistance ll. The resistor ll is large compared to the coil of the field switch l5 but is small enough to charge the condenser 6" during the acceleration period.

The switch Ill is closed immediately after the tube ll operates and the current through the resistor I" is used to hold-in the coil Ill on the field relay ll.

Returning to Fig. 7, the switch II is kept open until the motor is run up to speed by inductionmotor forces. When this switch is closed, preferably by automatic means, as a function of time or speed, the circuit is ready to operate at the first time that the angle is right.

As previously discussed, the double-grid tube ll, II or ll operates at the instant that both grids are energized, one by a pulse of voltage from the Thepeaking transformer II 8 and the other by a voltage at the instant the brushes I28 and I28 make contact with the segments HI and I22. The tubes 58, 5I and 88 have unusual characteristics, as will now be explained.

The tubes 58 and 5| are connected into circuits of such nature that other tubes, such as thyratrons, might serve equally as well. For a full understanding of Fig. '1, however, it will be desirable to explain the peculiar properties of the tube disclosed in the said Germeshausen application. The characteristic curves showing the grid voltages for starting the tube are shown in Fig. 8. Instantaneous values of the voltages on the grids 8| and 82, plotted as a function of time, are shown in Fig. 9; that is, the curve! represents the voltage on the grid 82 as a function of time and the curve 9 represents thegvoltage on the grid 8I as a function of time.

The axis of abscissa corresponds to the voltage of the grid 82 and the axis of ordinates corresponds to the voltage of the grid 8|. Voltages a and c (Fig. 9) are applied to the grid 82 over the range between the points a and e. At the origin 0, the brushes I28 and I28 are open; at the point 0, directly above the point 0, they are closed. When these brushes I28 and I29 are closed, the voltage is as represented by the peak of the curve g in Fig. 9. The points I) and d are directly above the points a and e at a distance 00. The region of non-conduction of the tube 88 is represented inside the characteristic starting curve I 18 of the tube 88; that is, the tube will not operate if the two grid voltages determine a point inside the curve I18. The tube operates only at points corresponding to those outside of the curve, as at point b, and operates as soon as the border is passed.

The point a in Fig. 8 corresponds to the negative peak amplitude a of the curve 1 of Fig. 9; that is, the instantaneous grid voltage in the grid 62 at the negative peak a is shown in Fig. 8 at a. Similarly, the positive peak amplitude e of the curve 1 of Fig. 9 corresponds to a point e of Fig. 8. The peak voltage a of the curve 9 of Fig. 9 is represented in Fig. 8 at c.

If the peak grid voltages at a and at c, Fig. 9, come at the same instant of time, the tube 88 will operate, since the point b on the characteristic curve I18, Fig. 8, is outside of the boundary. As the motor slips, the occurrence of the above condition will eventually take place, thereby switching the field at the desired angle.

The element IIQ serves, in Fig. '7, both as a phase shifter and a protective resistor, performing thus a double function, as described above in connection with the transformer winding 15. This is not the most approved form of phase shifting, but it is an easy and simple form that does not require unusual complications in the-s. drawing. It is quite effective for a phase shift of as much as 30 degrees, and this is amply sufiicient for ordinary purposes if the operation is maintained in the proper range. It is disadvantageous, in the system of Fig, 7, to change the phase by varying the element II8 too much, because such change involves a change in the magnitude of the voltage in the transformer winding 14 and the grid 82.

A more approved system, with greater complexities, is illustrated in Fig. 10. An actuating coil 28I for a relay 288 is connected, in parallel with the primary winding 18 of the transformer H8, to the conductors 3 and 4. Not only does closing the field switch 84 start the motor, therefore, but it also energizes the actuating coil 28l of the relay 288. A dash pot 284, as before indicated, however, prevents this relay from closing until a definite time has passed, during which time the motor comes up nearly to full speed. The relay 288 closes two circuits: first, through the medium of the contact members 282, it connects the brushes I28 and I29 to the grids of the tube 2I8; and secondly, through the medium of one of the contact members 288, it connects an energizing coil 25I of a relay or field switch 258 across a resistance 255 and in series with the exciter 5 and the condenser 285. The relay 258 does not operate at the instant of closing of the relay 288, but it does operate at the first time thereafter that the angle is right, as determined by the setting of the contact members I2I and I22 and the phase-shifting circuit II8.

Contact members 253 on the relay 258 carry the main field current, traversing the heavy-line field circuit extending from the conductor I8, through the exciter 5, through the contact members 253 to the conductor I1. Contact members 252 are used to open-circuit the field-discharge resistor 218 after the exciter has been connected. Contact members 254 close a hold-in circuit through the resistance 258, which keeps the relay 258 from opening.

The action of the tube 2I8, which suddenly discharges the condenser 285, is the same as has been described in connection with Fig. 1.

Further modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art, and all such are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electric system comprising a synchronous motor having two elements, namely, a stator and a rotor, one of the elements being an armature and the other element being a field winding, means for connecting the armature to a source of alternating current, means comprising a gas-containing grid-controlled tube for connecting the circuit of the field winding to a source of direct current, whereby the alternating voltage supplied to the armature from the source of alternating current produces a magnetic field that rotates in space at-a synchronous speed, and whereby the direct voltage applied to the field winding from the source of direct current produces a second magnetic field which rotates at synchronous speed when the motor is operating at synchronous speed and which reacts upon the first-named magnetic field to produce a torque that is a function of the angle oi displacement between the said magnetic fields, a second gas-filled tube in the field circuit, the secondnamed tube having two grids and being normally non-conducting, and means rotatable in synchronism with the rotor and controlled in accordance with the voltage of the source of alternating current for controlling the grids to render the second-named tube conducting at a predetermined angle of displacement between the said magnetic fields.

2. In an electric system comprising a synchronous motor having two elements, namely, a stator and a rotor, one of the elements being an armature and the other element being a field winding, means for connecting the armature to a source of alternating current, a relay comprising a gascontaining tube havng two grids for connecting the circuit of the field winding to a source of direct current, whereby the alternating voltage supplied to the armature from the source of alternating current produces a magnetic field that rotates in space at asynchronous speed, and whereby the direct voltage applied to the field winding from the source of direct current produces a second magnetic field which rotates at synchronous speed when the motor is operating at synchronous speed and which reacts upon the firstnamed magnetic field to produce a torque that is a function of the angle of displacement between the said magnetic fields, the tube being normally non-conducting, a conducting member rotatable in synchronism with the rotor, two conducting members cooperative with the firstnamed conducting member, and means controlled by the conducting members for energizing one of the grids to render the tube conducting at a predetermined angle of displacement between the said magnetic fields.

3. In an electric system comprising a synchronous motor having two elements, namely, a stator and a rotor, One of the elements being an armature and the other element being a field winding, means for connecting the armature to a source of alternating current, a relay comprising a gascontaining tube having two grids for connecting the circuit of the field winding to a source of direct current, whereby the alternating voltage supplied to the armature from the source or alternating current produces a magnetic field that rotates in space at a synchronous speed, and whereby the direct voltage applied to the field winding from the source of direct current produces a second magnetic field which rotates at synchronous speed when the motor is operating at synchronous speed and which reacts upon the first-named magnetic field to produce a torque that is a function of the angle of displacement between the said magnetic fields, the tube being normally non-conducting, and means for applying a voltage to one of the grids in phase with one of the said magnetic fields and (or applying a voltage to the other grid in phase with the other of the said magnetic fields to render the tube conducting at a predetermined angle or displacement between the said magnetic fields.

4. In an electric system comprising a synchronous motor having two elements, namely, a stator and a rotor having a pair or pairs of poles, one of the elements being an armature and the other element being a field winding, means for connecting the armature to a source of alternating current, a relay comprising a gas-containing grid-controlled tube for connecting the circuit of the field winding to a source of direct current, whereby the alternating voltage supplied to the armature from the source of alternating current produces a magnetic field that rotates in space at a synchronous speed, and whereby the direct voltage applied to the field winding from the source of direct current produces a second magnetic field which rotates at synchronous speed when the motor is operating at synchronous speed and which reacts upon the first-named magnetic field to produce a torque that is a function of the angle of displacement between the said magnetic fields, the tube being normally non-conducting, a member rotatable in synchronism with the rotor and having a plurality of parts equal in number to, and spaced to correspond with, the pair or pairs of poles of the rotor, and means controlled by the member for rendering the tube conducting.

5. In an electric system comprising a synchronous motor having two elements, namely, a stator and a rotor having a pair or pairs oi. poles, one of the elements being an armature and the other element being a field winding, means for connecting the armature to a source of alternating current, a relay comprising a gas-containing grid-controlled tube for connecting the circuit or the field winding to a source of direct current, whereby the alternating voltage supplied to the armature from the source of alternating current produces a magnetic field that rotates in space at a synchronous speed, and whereby the direct voltage applied to the field winding from the source of direct current produces a second magnetic field which rotates at synchronous speed when the motor is operating at synchronous speed and which reacts upon the first-named magnetic field to produce a torque that is a function or the angle of displacement between the said magnetic fields, the tube being normally non-conducting, an insulating disc rotatable in synchronism with the rotor and having a pinrality of conducting segments equal in number to, and spaced to correspond with, the pair or pairs of poles of the rotor, two brushes for contacting with the conducting segments, and means for connecting one of the brushes to the grid and the other brush to another portion of the tube to render the tube conducting.

6. In an electric system comprising a synchronous motor having two elements, namely, a stator and a rotor having a pair or pairs of poles, one of the elements being an armature and the other element being a field winding, means for connecting the armature to a source of alternating current, a relay comprising a gas-containing grid-controlled tube for connecting the circuit 01' the field winding to a source or direct current, whereby the alternating voltage supplied to the armature from the source of alternating current produces a magnetic field that rotates in space at a synchronous speed, and whereby the direct voltage applied to the field winding irom the source or direct current produces a second magnetic field which rotates at synchronous speed when the motor is operating at synchronous speed and which reacts upon the firstnamed magnetic field to produce a torque that is a function of the angle of displacement between the said magnetic fields, the tube being normally non-conducting, a conducting disc rotatable in synchronism with the rotor and having a plurality of insulating segments equal in number to, and spaced to correspond with, the pair or pairs of poles of the rotor, two members for contacting with the disc and adapted to be bridged by the insulating segments, and means for connecting one of the contacting members to the grid and the other contacting member to another portion of the tube circuit to render the tube conducting.

7. In an electric system comprising a synchronous motor having two elements, namely, a stator and a rotor, one of the elements being an armature and the other element being a field winding, means for connecting the armature to a source of alternating current, a transformer having a primary winding connected to the source and a secondary winding, and means responsive to a selected position of the field winding with reference to the rotating field in the armature for connecting said field winding to said secondary winding, said means comprising a gascontaining grid-controlled tube and means for controlling the grid of the tube from the rotatable part of the motor.

8. In an .uleCtTiC system comprising a synchronous motor having two elements, namely, a stator and a rotor, one of the elements being an armature and the other element being a field winding, means for connecting the armature to a source of alternating current, a grid-controlled rectifier for connecting the circuit of the field winding to the source, whereby the alternating voltage supplied to the armature from the source of alternating current produces a magnetic field that rotates in space at a synchronous speed, and whereby the direct voltage applied to the field winding from the rectifier produces a' second magnetic field which rotates at synchronous speed when the motor is operating at synchronous speed and which reacts upon the firstnamed magnetic field to produce a torque that is a function of the, angle of displacement between the said magnetic fields, a condenser for energizing the grid of the rectifier, and means for charging and discharging the condenser in synchronism with the frequency of the alternating-current source.

9. In an electric system comprising a synchronous motor having two elements, namely, a stator and a rotor, one of the elements being an armature and the other element being a field winding, means for connecting the armature to a source of alternating current, two grid-controlled rectifiers for connecting the circuit of the field winding to the source, whereby the alternating voltage supplied to the armature from the source of alternating current produces a magnetic field that rotates in space at a synchronous speed, and whereby the direct voltage applied to the field winding from the rectifier produces a second magnetic field which rotates at synchronous speed when the motor is operating at synchronous speed and which reacts upon the first-named magnetic field to produce a torque that is a function of the angle of displacement between the said magnetic fields, two condensers, one for energizing the grid of each rectifier, two grid-controlled tubes for respectively controlling the condensers, and means for controlling the grid of the last-named tubes in synchronism with the frequency of the alternatingcurrent source.

10. In an electric system comprising a. synchronous motor having two elements, namely, a stator and a rotor, one of the elements being an armature and the other element being a field winding, means for connecting the armature to a source of alternating current, a mechanical relay for connecting the circuit of the field winding to a source of direct current, whereby the alternating voltage supplied to the armature from the source of alternating current produces a magnetic field that rotates in space at a synchronous speed, and whereby the direct voltage applied to the field winding from the source of direct current produces a second magnetic field which rotates at synchronous speed when the motor is operating at synchronous speed and which reacts upon the first-named magnetic field to produce a torque that is a function of the angle of displacement between the said magnetic fields, a normally ineffective grid-controlled tube for controlling the actuation of the relay, a condenser for rendering the grid-controlled tube effective, and means for permitting the condenser to render the gridcontrolled tube effective, the last-named means being controlled in accordance with the angle of displacement between the said magnetic fields.

11. In a system of control for starting a synchronous motor, in combination, a synchronous motor having an armature winding, a field winding, and a damper winding constituting a starting means to start the motor as an induction motor upon energization of the armature by al ternating current, a source of alternating current, means for connecting the armature to the source of alternating current, a source of direct current, switching means for connecting the field winding to the source of direct current, and control means, said control means including impulse means interconnected with said source of alternatmg current and adapted to produce impulses of electric energy each time the rotating field in the armature winding takes some selected position, an impulse generator, driven by the rotor of the motor, adapted to generate impulses of electric energy each time the rotor of the motor takes a selected position, and means, responsive to the magnitude of the combined impulse of the impulses of energy produced by said impulse means and impulse generator, adapted to cause the operation of said switching means.

12. In a system of control, in combination, a coil, a source of direct current, a switch for connecting the coil to the source of direct current, an impulse generator driven at a variable speed adapted to produce impulses of electric energy of varying frequency and varying magnitude, 9. source of alternating current, an impulse transformer connected to said source of alternating current adapted to produce impulses of electric energy of a certain magnitude and frequency, and means, responsive to the magnitude of the impulse resulting from the combined action of said transformer and impulse generator, adapted to operate said switch.

13. In a system of control for starting a synchronous motor, in combination, electrical impulse producing means including an element mounted in a selected relationship with reference to the field windings of the motor, adapted to cause electric impulses which impulses will thus indicate each time the field winding holds a iven position in space, a second electric impulse producing means energized from the source of supply of alternating current whereby impulses are produced having a frequency equal to the frequency of the source of alternating current supply, and control means responsive to the combined impulses of the two impulse producing means adapted to energize the field winding with direct current.

14. In a system of control for starting a synchronous motor having an armature winding, or stator, and a field winding, or rotor, a source of alternating current, means adapted to connect the source of alternating current to the armature winding to produce a rotating field in said armature winding, means coupled to the field winding adapted to produce the positive portion of an alternating voltage wave each time the field winding holds a given position with reference to the armature winding, means interconnected with the source of alternating current adapted to produce the positive portion of a voltage wave each time the given point on the rotating field in the armature has a selected position with reference to the stator, an electric discharge device adapted to become conducting when said p t portions of the two voltage waves are in pha and means adapted to energize the field winding with direct current in response to the operation of the breakdown of the electric discharge device.

15. In a system of control for starting a synchronous motor, in combination, an impulse generator, mounted in a selected relation with reference to the field windings of the motor, adapted to generate impulses of electric energy which impulses will thus indicate each time the field winding holds a given position in space, impulse 'means energized from the source of supply of alternating current whereby impulses are produced of a frequency equal to the frequency of the source of alternating current supply, and control means responsive to the combined impulses of the impulse generator and the impulse means adapted to energize the field winding with direct current.

16. In a system of control for starting a synchronous motor, in combination, an impulse generator, mounted in a given position with reference to the field windings of the motor, adapted to generate impulses of electric energy which impulses indicate each time the field windings hold a given position in space, impulse means energized from the source of supply of alternating current whereby impulses of electric energy are produced having a frequency equal to the frequency of the supply and each impulse having a given position with reference to a given point on the wave of alternating current giving rise to the impulse, and control means responsive to the combined efiect of the impulses of the impulse generator and the said impulse means.

17. A system of control for a synchronous motor, in combination, a synchronous motor having an armature winding and a field winding mounted on pole pieces, a source of alternating current, a source of direct current, switching means adapted to connect the armature winding to the source of alternating current to start the motor as an induction motor, switching means adapted to connect said field winding to said source of direct current, and electronic control means including means operable to produce an electrical effect each time the instantaneous voltage of the source of alternating current being supplied to the armature winding passes through a given value, means operable to produce an electrical effect each time a given point on the rotor holds a given position in space, and means, responsive to the joint electrical effects of the last two means mentioned, adapted to effect the operation of the switching means for connecting the field winding to the source of direct current.

18. In a system of control, in combination, a source of alternating current, a dynamo-electric machine adapted to be connected to said source of alternating current to be operated thereby, said dynamo-electric machlne having a rotor and windings on the rotor, circuit connections for the rotor windings, and control means including a device operable to produce an electrical effect each time the instantaneous voltage of the source of alternating current being supplied to the dynamo-electric machine passes through a. given value, a device operable to produce an electrical effect each time a given point on the rotor holds a given position in space, and means, responsive to joint electrical effects of the devices mentioned, adapted to control the circuit arrangement of the windings on the rotor with the said circuit connections.

HAROLD E. EDGERTON. 

